Coronavirus: These travel companies are letting travellers cancel their trip

In an unprecedented move, many travel operators are allowing nervous travellers to cancel their trips without a fee as coronavirus sweeps the globe.

As the global coronavirus crisis worsens, the travel industry is urging travellers not to put off booking their next holiday.

Upgraded travel alerts and flight and cruise cancellations means many nervous travellers have been delaying booking their next trip.

So to reassure holiday goers, some operators are making an unprecedented move, offering incentives and waiving cancellations fees if holiday plans change due to coronavirus.
Here are some of the latest announcements.

AIRLINES

QANTAS/JETSTAR

Customers with existing bookings on any domestic or international flight until May 31, who no longer wish to travel, can cancel their flight and retain the value of the booking as a travel credit voucher. This needs to be processed by March 31.

Customers who make a new domestic or international booking between March 10 and 31, for travel until May 31, and later decide they no longer wish to travel, can cancel their flight and retain the value of the booking as a Qantas travel credit or Jetstar travel voucher.

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA AND TIGERAIR

Virgin Australia and Tigerair Australia are waiving change fees for domestic and international bookings for travel up until June 30, 2020. This includes changes to dates and destinations, with a maximum of one change per domestic booking.

Payment well be required for any fare difference or applicable taxes.
UNITED

United has announced it will charge no fees for changes to new bookings, stating on its website: “We know people are taking a second look at their travel plans right now, and we want you to have flexibility when planning your next trip — that’s why when you book a flight with us between March 3 and March 31, 2020, you can change it for free over the next 12 months.”

QATAR

Qatar Airways has launched a new policy allowing passengers that have booked or will book flights for travel up to June 30 to change their travel plans free of charge by altering the dates of their booking or exchanging their ticket for a travel voucher valid for one year. Both changes apply up to three days prior to departure.

EMIRATES

Emirates has introduced a waiver policy for all flight bookings made on or before March 31, 2020, allowing customers across its network the choice of changing their travel dates (within 11 months) without change and reissuance fees. The new policy covers all existing destinations across the Emirates network.

DELTA

Delta Air Lines is waiving its change fees for customers with flights scheduled through to April 30 if the ticket was issued on or before March 9, as well as customers purchasing new flights in the month of March.

LATAM

LATAM is allowing flight changes without penalty for any international tickets issued between March 6 and March 22, with 14 days notice before scheduled flights. New trips must be booked for a date before December 31, 2020.

SCOOT

Scoot’s Book With Confidence policy offers a one-time free date change for all new bookings made from March 10 to May 14, 2020. The change will be implemented for all passengers in the same booking itinerary.

CATHAY PACIFIC

Cathay Pacific are allowing unlimited changes without charge for new Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon tickets issued between March 9 and April 20, 2020. Flight dates must be rescheduled for travel before February 28, 2021.

AIR CANADA

Any customer with a flight purchased before March 4, 2020 for travel before April 30, 2020, can make a one-time change to the flight without incurring a change fee (up to 24 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure). A flight can also be cancelled completely, and a future credit will be granted.

TOURS

INTREPID

Intrepid has modified its cancellation policies for all new and existing bookings, offering customers a refund credit note which can be redeemed against a future booking.

For customers re-booking trips now, the company is waiving any change fees and offering a price guarantee. For customers who choose to wait before re-booking, Intrepid is offering 110% credit on the money already paid, which can be combined with any future discounts too.

TRAFALGAR, INSIGHT VACATIONS, COSTSAVER

Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, and Costsaver (all brands of The Travel Corporation) are waiving their cancellation penalty up until 30 days prior to departure for travellers with existing bookings departing on or after April 1.

The new cancellation policy is effective immediately and until further notice.

G ADVENTURES

G Adventures already offers Life Time Deposits to any customer who cancels, meaning they can save their initial deposit and use it at a later date, “no questions asked, be it 10 weeks or 10 years after your initial booking”.
If a tour is cancelled by G Adventures due to coronavirus, travellers can choose between 110 per cent travel credit to be used within two years, or a full refund.

CAMINO WAYS

Greenlife Tours are waiving change fees across all their brands (including CaminoWays.com, CanariaWays.com, IrelandWays.com and FrancigenaWays.com

All customers are now entitled to one free date change, up to 30 days before the scheduled trip start date (to reschedule within 12 months). New trip dates will be subject to availability.

ACCOMMODATION

ELITE HAVENS

Luxury villa company Elite Havens is guaranteeing a full refund to anyone who can’t get to their booked accommodation if their flights are cancelled due to coronavirus.

A refund will also be offered to any guests sidelined by quarantine.

“We understand that flexibility is required for travel planning in the current COVID-19 scenario. So should your flights be cancelled or a travel advisory require you to be quarantined, we guarantee a full refund or you can choose to move your stay within 12 months of your check-in date, in the same villa, for the same number of nights and in the same (or lower) season,” Elite Havens said in an email to customers.

AIRBNB

Airbnb have rolled out a suite of tools for both hosts and guests, making reservations and cancellations more flexible. This includes a refund of the Airbnb guest service fee (refunded as a travel coupon) for bookings made now through to June 1, 2020.

HOTELS

Hotels are also waiving cancellation fees and offering more flexible rebooking policies in response to coronavirus.
Marriott International guests with existing reservations, or making new reservations, can change or cancel – without charge – up to 24 hours prior to their hotel booking, up until April 30, 2020. Check the website for more details and exclusions.

Hilton are now offering the following flexible booking options:

-In regions affected by government-issued travel restrictions, change fees will be waived or full refunds offered.

-All existing reservations (even those described as “non-cancellable”) that are scheduled for arrival before April 30, 2020, can be changed or cancelled at no charge with up to 24 hours notice.

-Any new reservations (even those described as “non-cancellable”) that are booked before April 30, 2020, for any future arrival date, can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival.

Shangri-La is also waiving its cancellation fees for all bookings made before March 1 by guests travelling to any of its hotels in Greater China, as well as for any guests who plan to travel from Greater China and Korea to any of its hotels globally, on or before March 31.

Elite Havens will refund customers who can’t get to their villa accommodation due to coronavirus. Picture: Elite Havens

CRUISES

SILVERSEA AND ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Sister brands Silversea and Royal Caribbean International will both let guests cancel any cruise departing now through to July 31, regardless of whether it is already booked, or booked in the coming months, with only 48 hours notice. A Future Cruise Credit will be offered, and can be used toward any cruise that sets sail before December 31, 2021.

In addition, travellers who book (or have already booked) a Silversea cruise with departure dates between June 1 and December 31 will be able to cancel up until 30 days prior to departure, and only need to pay a customary administrative fee on the cruise fare.

MSC

MSC Cruises have created a Cruise Assurance Program allowing new and existing guests to cancel up to 48 hours prior to their cruise departure and receive a Future Cruise Credit. The policy applies to sailings departing through to July 31, 2020, and the credit is valid on any cruise departing on or before December 31, 2021.

UNIWORLD

Uniworld has announced those booked on cruises departing May 1, 2020 or later will have the option to cancel their cruise at 30 days before departure, at the lesser 120-plus day cancellation rate of $A250 per person.

VIKING

Viking has announced a temporary exception to its cancellation policy, offering guests who are booked to travel on any upcoming 2020, 2021 or 2022 Viking cruise (river, ocean or expedition) the option to postpone their cruise (with no fee) at any time up until 24 hours before it departs.

They will receive a ‘Future Cruise Voucher’ for the full value of the amount paid which can be used toward any future cruise, valid for 24 months.

In addition, any guest who books a new cruise between now and 30 April 2020 will also be free to postpone their cruise up to 24 hours before departure, without incurring cancellation fees. They too will receive a Future Cruise Voucher valid for 24 months.

“Our guests are experienced travellers. We know that for you, travel is a way of life. Our temporary policy exception is designed to give you peace of mind and the certainty to continue planning your travels,” said Viking’s Michelle Black.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

Holland America Line has announced two new programs offering greater flexibility when it comes to cancellations.

The ‘Book with Confidence’ deal allows guests to cancel any cruise or Land and Sea Journey for any reason – even getting cold feet about health issues – and receive a credit towards a future cruise. The offer is available to new bookings made up until April, 30, 2020 for cruises sailing from April 1 to October, 15, 2020. The cruise must be cancelled at least 30 days before the departure date.

The second program, the ‘Cancellation Protection Plan’ can be purchased for new or existing cruises (or Alaska Land and Sea Journeys) as long as it is purchased before the date cancellation fees begin to accrue. The program allows guests to cancel up to 24 hours before cruise departure and receive refunds of 80 per cent of eligible amounts paid. The cost varies by cruise fare and is non-refundable.

“We fully understand that travellers are uncertain about their future vacations, so we have created two new programs to give both our current booked guests and those who want to cruise later this year more options and confidence for their planning,” said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president.

“It’s always important that travellers protect their vacation investment, and our Cancellation Protection Plan is one of the most robust available, allowing guests to cancel for any reason. And our plans cover today’s circumstances, which many policies do not; so when combined with our new programs it’s one of the most assured ways to confidently plan your cruise today.”

PRINCESS

Anyone who cancels, or has already cancelled, a Princess Cruises cruise or cruisetour due to depart between March 6 – May 31, will automatically receive Future Cruise Credit (FCC) for 100 per cent of cancellation fees. The details vary by departure date.

Guests who choose to keep their bookings will be rewarded with an Onboard Credit of $A150-300 depending on the room and length of cruise.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

Norwegian Cruise Line has rolled out a ‘Peace of Mind’ policy, offering guests who book voyages through to September 30 a 100 per cent cruise credit (expiring December 21, 2022) if they cancel up to 48 hours prior to the cruise departure date.

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced a ‘Regent Reassurance’ policy that will apply to all voyages departing through to September 30.

Guests who have paid in full on any of these voyages now have the option to cancel their voyage up to 48 hours prior to sailing and receive a 100 per cent Future Cruise Credit, which can be applied to any new booking within one year on any Regent voyage that embarks between now and December 31.

See also:
• What travellers need to know about coronavirus
• Coronavirus: What cruisers need to know
• Coronavirus and bushfires drive Australian airfares down
• How to avoid coronavirus on a plane

Originally published as Coronavirus: These travel companies are letting travellers cancel their trip